Soy Candles
Do you know that there is actually a healthier choice of candles? We fret about colors, shapes, accessories, and scents, yet, we neglect to think that there is a more crucial factor needed in choosing the right type of candles.
Soy candles are becoming everyone’s favorite candles. It is because these are derived from the hydrogenated soybean oil which makes this type an all-natural product. People might insist on using the beeswax. True enough, being all-natural as well, beeswax candle is a healthy choice too. However, a soy candle can give you the health benefits of the beeswax candle at a lesser price. Furthermore, soy candles burn longer and are less messy.
Using soy candles give you more benefits than using the traditional paraffin wax. For one, candles made from soy wax emit lesser soot than its other counterparts. Soy wax spill are not hard to clean up either. Furthermore, they burn 50% (or more) longer than the paraffin ones. Since, soy candles are all-natural, burning them does not pose any health issues.
If you are fond of using air fresheners from aerosol sprays, there is now a much better option. Scented soy candles do not only offer illumination but are actually great odor eliminators as well. This is basically the best choice for scented candles because soy wax can hold fragrance more efficiently than the other candle ingredients. Furthermore, soy candles are non-toxic and do not contain animal fat, preventing any allergic reactions. Thus, your scented soy candle will provide you a more lasting scent – and a healthier one as well.
Soy candles can be produced by anyone right in their homes. It was only invented in 1991, but has become more popular than the other types. The creation of the soy candles was propelled by the huge demand of natural waxes as alternative to the paraffin ones. However, natural waxes were expensive and only a few people can afford them. Michael Richards, the soy candle inventor, found the perfect soy wax by mixing soybean oil with coconut oil and palm oil, and a tiny bit of beeswax as well. Around 1995, the first soy candle supply store came into existence.
If you wish to try making your very own soy candles, there are several online sites that will provide you with a comprehensive guide. Also, since soy wax has become a popular paraffin-alternative, there are plenty of soy candle supplies available in most craft stores. If you wish to buy supplies via the internet, there are candle-making supply stores that allow you to order online.
If you are unsure what scent you want your candles to have though, it is best that you go to the store yourself and pick out the scent personally. You can actually experiment with the various fragrances available in order to come up with the kind of scent you have in mind. Since soy wax candles are known to burn at lower temperatures of about 170 degrees, it is recommended that the oil-based fragrance used should be around 0.5 to 0.75 ounce for every pound of the soy wax. And as an additional benefit, soy wax candles are known to throw fragrance better than most types of candles.
There are also other things to consider when you want to create homemade soy candles. Achieving the right color takes a bit of patience as well. When you’re using the dye block to add color to your soy wax candles, place a cheese grater over the heated wax and use it to scrape off bits of pieces from the block. You can check the color by placing minute amount of melted wax on a wax paper. You will see the color of your candle when the wax cools.
Accessorizing and decorating your very own candles only require your imagination and endless creativity. So there’s really no point in worrying if you don’t come up with a masterpiece the first time. After all, practice makes perfect.